- it is the art of arranging, correcting, and selecting the quality and type of news
- it is also called copy editing
- one who edits copies is called a copyreader/ copyeditor
Responsibilities
- edits errors on grammar (spelling, tenses, agreement, etc)
- edits errors of facts
- edits verbose copy
- deletes opinion slant and libellous statements
- writes the headline
Pointers
Numbers (Spell out or numeral)
Exceptions:
- dates, address :always in figures
- beginning of sentence : always in words
- events: 1st – 9th is allowed
Spelling
- look for the misspelled words
- here in the Philippines, American English is used, not British English
Example: Color not Colour
- if a word has more than one accepted spelling, the shortest one is preferred.
Example: Judgment, instead of Judgement
Capitalization
- the first letter of the sentence is always capitalized
- Proper nouns are capitalize, common nouns are not
Example: Singer Regine Velasquez
- small letters are usually used for title or position
Example: Mrs. Cecilla Burayag, the principal of BCIS, delivered the opening remarks
- capitalized titles : Governor Umali
Abbreviations
- spell out Dept., gov’t and other abbreviations
- the abbreviations Jr. and Sr. are allowed in names
Remember: if it is complete in details, you should abbreviate it to have more space
Example: Engr. Emmanuel Delgado
Engineer Delgado
12 Dimagiba st.
Dimagiba street
Comma
- To separate the month and day from the year
- to separate the street, barangay, town, and province in address
- to separate facts concerning victims and suspects
Example: Jolas Burayag, 17, of barangay San Fernando Norte
- do not use commas to separate the abbreviation dr., sr., or from the name
Example: Emmanuel Delgado Jr.
Hyphen
- used in most compound nouns
Example: Editor- in- chief, officer-in- charge
- in fractions
Example: two- thirds, three- fourths
- in numerals